“I haven’t even thought about it.” - President Trump, to reporters in the Oval Office Wednesday when asked if he was likely to fire National Intelligence Director Dan Coats, after several reports said he was ‘fuming’ at the former Indiana senator. Longtime Trump confidant Chris Ruddy told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that he believes Coats may be fired because the Trump is "disappointed" with him. "I think you have a classic example where Director Coats is trying to make policy and not inform policy," Ruddy said Monday, citing Coats testimony that included North Korea maintaining its nuclear arsenal.

It continues to amaze me how many folks from central and southern Indiana have never visited Indiana's sea, known to most of us as Lake Michigan. If you need another reason to take a couple hour trip northward on U.S. 31, U.S. 421 or I-65, thank President Trump for our first national park. It's now the Indiana Dunes National Park. The move was included in the spending package compromise that Trump signed on Friday, inserted in the legislation with the help of U.S. Sen. Todd Young and U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky.

Visclosky said, "I also am heartened that because of the support of our U.S. Senators, the entire Indiana Congressional delegation, and numerous Northwest Indiana organizations, we have successfully titled the first National Park in our state. This action provides our shoreline with the recognition it deserves, and I hope further builds momentum to improve open and public access to all of our region’s environmental wonders.”

The Dunes includes white sand beaches, trails and an array of flora and bogs, with a front row seat to the Chicago skyline. It richly deserves to be Indiana's first national park. - Brian A. Howey, publisher